Can anyone tell me, please, what “C” Battery, 175th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

were doing etc on Sunday 17 June 1917. I gather that they were in position south of Ypres but any further informationwould he helpful.

Many thanks, regards,

Graeme

Hi Graeme.

I've been researching 175 brigade for a couple of years now as my Granddad an other relatives served in it. on this date they had just moved to new positions near Plugstreet map 28 SW ,ref U8C and D.

From the war diary..." Morning normal, B/175, C/175 subjected to 10 minutes intense bombardment with 15cm and a few 10.5 cm shells. C/175 3 killed, 1 wounded, 1 gun out of action." They withdrew to U13a 5.9, during which they suffered 3 more casualties including one officer, 2nd Lt Allen wounded in the leg.

The war diary never mentions O.R's by name but the three men fom C battery killed were.Bert Griffiths Gnr 686472Charles Stamp Gnr 686335John Lewis Gnr 685781

Hope this helps, anything else about the brigade I can help with let me know.

Could anyone help on this one, granddad died 9th May 1918 in Flanders.
His name is Harold Matthew Mercer serving in the Royal Fild Artillery (686477)
It is difficult to read on his service record, it looks like he was serving in the C/175 Brigade and was killed in action. just wanted to know his whereabouts on that day.
Sorry but I'm new to this information, not sure where to start.
Regards
Don Mogg.

C/175 were in action that day near the village of Agny, just to the south of Arras , Bombardier Harold Mercer was killed along with James Dooris who was a shoeing Smith, both men being from Liverpool. I may be wrong on this but judging by their service numbers it seems like both men were territorials. While the war diary doesn't mention any casualties that day , it does state that the "enemy fired 70 gas shell on brigade areas" so that may be related to their deaths.

Hi Graeme
How's it up "The Wood"!
The war diary for that week is pretty sparse considering (or maybe because) of the action that was taking place. A and B/175 were in action 400 yards east of Albert and 200 yards north of the Albert- Bapaume road. C and D/175 in Authillie Wood. The brigade were supporting the attack by The Tyneside Scottish on La Boiselle, then the follow up attacks by the 19th Division which finally captured the village. Brigade were relieved on 6th July after being in action for 72 hours continuously, after which batteries were relieved for 2 hours at a time until finally relieved .
The only noted casualty in the diary at this time is a Lt Hickman. However there must have been other casualties, as in Hickmans records is a note from a gunner Smith of A/175 in hospital on 3rd July, who notes seeing Hickman and a gunner sitting under a tree near HQ, when they were hit by a shell which blew Hickman in two, and badly wounded the gunner who was stretchered off.
This could have been Sidney Rider B/175 who later died of wounds? Great pic will get that on the site.

16th June "A and B/175 moved into new positions near Fusilier Farm U8c" No mention of enemy shelling or casualties, but the war diary can be a bit vague at times.

17th June

." Morning normal, B/175, C/175 subjected to 10 minutes intense bombardment with 15cm and a few 10.5 cm shells. C/175 3 killed, 1 wounded, 1 gun out of action." They withdrew to U13a 5.9, during which they suffered 3 more casualties including one officer, 2nd Lt Allen wounded in the leg.

6.30am. Bombardment commenced.7.30 am. British infantry crossed No Man's Land to attack the German positions east of Albert. This Brigade co-operated with the Tyneside Scottish, the zone allotted to it being the whole of La Boisselle salient and a strip about 750 yards wide running from the salient in a N.E. Direction.The infantry attack was greatly held up by machine guns, which the enemy brought up from deep dug outs.

5th July:During the last few days our batteries were chiefly employed in preventing fresh troops and supplies reaching the La Boisselle garrison, and assisting the attack on the village by the 19th division, which finally fell on the 5th July. Night time duties were barrages on the approaches from Pozieres.

6th July:Brigade relieved by 89th brigade 19th division. B and C/175 went into rest at Dernancourt , A and D/175 stayed in position. During the operation on 1st July , 2nd Lt Hickman was killed, and 2nd Lt J.Crumbie wounded. Both were liaison officers attached to the infantry.From the morning of the 1st July the 18Pdr batteries were firing continuously for 72 hours after which batteries were relieved from firing by two hours at a time, but the barrage was continued up to the time of relief by 89th brigade.

June 1917

1st. Batteries heavily gas shelled by the enemy . Some gas shelling of HQ at T17a 0.3. Several men sick but no casualties. Hostile shelling much heavier, several of our ammunition dumps being blown up during the day. A/175 registered by enemy battery, 15cm. One pit caught fire.

16th . C/175 moved forward to new positions at U8c in order to increase range, A/175 and B/175 moved into new positions at Fusilier Farm U8c.3 enemy aeroplane flew over these new positions and opened fire on the men with machine guns.

C/175 were in action that day near the village of Agny, just to the south of Arras , Bombardier Harold Mercer was killed along with James Dooris who was a shoeing Smith, both men being from Liverpool. I may be wrong on this but judging by their service numbers it seems like both men were territorials. While the war diary doesn't mention any casualties that day , it does state that the "enemy fired 70 gas shell on brigade areas" so that may be related to their deaths.